South African Commercial Law Training Program Expands to Botswana through International Senior Lawyers Project

Released on = June 27, 2007, 1:56 pm

Press Release Author = International Senior Lawyers Project

Industry = Law

Press Release Summary = A Kellogg Fd grant is supporting a commercial law training
program for historically-disadvantaged attorneys in South Africa and Botswana

Press Release Body = NEW YORK, NY - The International Senior Lawyers Project has
received a $221,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation of Battle Creek, MI to
co-sponsor a commercial law training program for historically-disadvantaged
attorneys in South Africa and Botswana. According to Jean Berman, Executive
Director of ISLP, "this generous grant will permit ISLP to continue and expand its
co-sponsorship of a program which addresses the issues of racial inequality and lack
of opportunity that are the continuing legacy of colonialism and apartheid in
southern Africa."

In partnership with the South African Black Lawyers Association, ISLP will offer a
12-week commercial law training program in both Johannesburg and Cape Town beginning
July 12. The trainings pair nine experienced commercial law attorneys from the
United States with South African business lawyers to teach the practicalities of
commercial law to attorneys who have historically been denied opportunities to
practice in this area. All instructors provide their time on a pro bono basis.

Since 2004, nearly 200 South African attorneys have participated in the training
program. The Kellogg Foundation grant allows the program to continue in South Africa
and to expand into Botswana as a five-week pilot program, which is being
co-sponsored by the Law Society of Botswana. Over 100 attorneys have registered for
the 2007 programs. The grant will also support a conference to be held in
Johannesburg in the fall to review the impact of the training programs in helping to
expand commercial law opportunities for black attorneys.

Attorney Steven Spronz, one of the first volunteer attorneys to lead a pilot program
in Johannesburg in 2004, is enthusiastic about the project's accomplishments,
noting, "Despite the myriad of problems that currently beset South Africa, my
students illustrated for me the qualities of determination, intelligence, grace and
hope essential to build a better life, not only for themselves, but to better
represent their clients, and by doing so, better their society as a whole." Mr.
Spronz will be returning in July to South Africa for his fourth year as an ISLP
volunteer instructor.

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation was established in 1930 "to help people help themselves
through the practical application of knowledge and resources to improve their
quality of life and that of future generations." To achieve the greatest impact, the
Foundation targets its grants toward specific areas. These include: health; food
systems and rural development; youth and education; and philanthropy and
volunteerism. Within these areas, attention is given to exploring learning
opportunities in leadership; information and communication technology; capitalizing
on diversity, and social and economic community development. Grants are
concentrated in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the southern
African countries of Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland,
and Zimbabwe. For further information, please visit the Foundation's Web site at
www.wkkf.org. The site offers: in-depth information about the Foundation's
programming interests, information on the Foundation's grant application process; a
database of current grant recipients; and access to publications which report on
Foundation-funded projects.

The International Senior Lawyers Project(www.islp.org) is an international
organization that enlists the resources of highly experienced lawyers worldwide on a
pro bono basis to advance the rule of law, human rights and equitable economic
development.
###


Web Site = http://www.islp.org

Contact Details = Jean Berman, Executive Director
International Senior Lawyers Project
31 W. 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019
212-880-5836; information@islp.org

  • Printer Friendly Format
  • Back to previous page...
  • Back to home page...
  • Submit your press releases...
  •